Tuesday's letters: Voting changes

Published: Tuesday, August 6, 2013 at 4:30 a.m.

Last Modified: Monday, August 5, 2013 at 5:26 p.m.

To the editor: I do not understand the concern expressed by Ms. Lois Baumann in her recent letter regarding voter registration changes. No one is being told they cannot vote, only that they must show entitlement to vote with a simple ID, available to anyone who is a citizen of the USA and of age.

You cannot get a library card or a driver’s license without proof of identity and/or residence. Isn’t our choice of government more important? I do not object to early voting, but it has brought with it some problems when a person’s ID is not checked. I could easily vote at my precinct and at another voting site, say I am my neighbor, give her address and vote again!

City parking

To the editor: Political campaigns best serve the public when they focus on issues, not personalities. It was unfortunate that candidate Jeff Collis used the valuable opportunity he was given to personally attack my intentions instead of adding ideas to a solution. He insinuated I was raising the issue of parking for self-interest. Had Mr. Collis asked me, he would have learned that I am not in favor of a diesel-powered trolley for a shuttle. I favor an electric tram-type vehicle, which I do not own and never expect to own.

While the responses from city and mayoral candidates were encouraging — “There is a problem” — the opinions regarding the parking deck show a continued resistance to master planning. No one is suggesting a parking deck next week. But shouldn’t we examine this possibility? What will Hendersonville look like in five years, 10 years? Will directional signs to parking lots be enough to handle the increased demand?

The Times-News may have been a little premature in its assessments. If you will closely examine the car counts by day, there is little to no convenient parking on weekend days. Weekends, not weekdays, determine whether retail will survive or fail.

Eva L. Ritchey

Hendersonville

No conspiracy

To the editor: Protecting our outdoor heritage for our children’s future isn’t a Democratic value or a Republican value — it’s an American value. It’s a shame that Florida resident Victoria Baer (“Agenda 21 topic of GOP ladies luncheon,” July 24) has convinced herself that there’s an evil conspiracy theory in every bike path. I can’t imagine that’s a very pleasant way to go through life.

My organization, the National Wildlife Federation, is among the many she targeted. We work with politicians from both sides of the aisle to safeguard wildlife, connect children with nature, and deal realistically with climate change. The NWF was founded more than 75 years ago as part of the first wave of conservationists, led not by tree-hugging liberals but by Republican President Teddy Roosevelt, who said, “The nation behaves well if it treats the natural resources as assets which it must turn over to the next generation increased, and not impaired in value.”

Giving industrial polluters free rein over our natural resources, as Baer prescribes, would undo all these generations of preserving our outdoor heritage. Where’s the conspiracy about citizens wanting to make good conservation policy? We call it good stewardship.

I and my fellow sportsmen conservationists take great issue with Ms. Baer’s paranoia.

<p>To the editor: I do not understand the concern expressed by Ms. Lois Baumann in her recent letter regarding voter registration changes. No one is being told they cannot vote, only that they must show entitlement to vote with a simple ID, available to anyone who is a citizen of the USA and of age.</p><p>You cannot get a library card or a driver’s license without proof of identity and/or residence. Isn’t our choice of government more important? I do not object to early voting, but it has brought with it some problems when a person’s ID is not checked. I could easily vote at my precinct and at another voting site, say I am my neighbor, give her address and vote again!</p><p>Please ask for my ID at the voting poll. My choices should be my own. Thank you.</p><p><em>Linda J. Moore</em></p><p><em>Fletcher</em></p><h3>City parking</h3>
<p>To the editor: Political campaigns best serve the public when they focus on issues, not personalities. It was unfortunate that candidate Jeff Collis used the valuable opportunity he was given to personally attack my intentions instead of adding ideas to a solution. He insinuated I was raising the issue of parking for self-interest. Had Mr. Collis asked me, he would have learned that I am not in favor of a diesel-powered trolley for a shuttle. I favor an electric tram-type vehicle, which I do not own and never expect to own.</p><p>While the responses from city and mayoral candidates were encouraging  There is a problem  the opinions regarding the parking deck show a continued resistance to master planning. No one is suggesting a parking deck next week. But shouldn’t we examine this possibility? What will Hendersonville look like in five years, 10 years? Will directional signs to parking lots be enough to handle the increased demand?</p><p>The Times-News may have been a little premature in its assessments. If you will closely examine the car counts by day, there is little to no convenient parking on weekend days. Weekends, not weekdays, determine whether retail will survive or fail.</p><p><em>Eva L. Ritchey</em></p><p><em>Hendersonville</em></p><h3>No conspiracy</h3>
<p>To the editor: Protecting our outdoor heritage for our children’s future isn’t a Democratic value or a Republican value  it’s an American value. It’s a shame that Florida resident Victoria Baer (Agenda 21 topic of GOP ladies luncheon, July 24) has convinced herself that there’s an evil conspiracy theory in every bike path. I can’t imagine that’s a very pleasant way to go through life.</p><p>My organization, the National Wildlife Federation, is among the many she targeted. We work with politicians from both sides of the aisle to safeguard wildlife, connect children with nature, and deal realistically with climate change. The NWF was founded more than 75 years ago as part of the first wave of conservationists, led not by tree-hugging liberals but by Republican President Teddy Roosevelt, who said, The nation behaves well if it treats the natural resources as assets which it must turn over to the next generation increased, and not impaired in value.</p><p>Giving industrial polluters free rein over our natural resources, as Baer prescribes, would undo all these generations of preserving our outdoor heritage. Where’s the conspiracy about citizens wanting to make good conservation policy? We call it good stewardship.</p><p>I and my fellow sportsmen conservationists take great issue with Ms. Baer’s paranoia.</p><p><em>G. Richard Mode</em></p><p><em>Morganton</em></p>